Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
