Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
