Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
