Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
