Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, aside from his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder 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.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
