Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey 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 miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
