Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
