Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
