Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
