Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
