Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
