Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
