Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
