Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
