Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
