Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not just the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
