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 be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
