Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins 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 extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
