Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back 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
