Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play 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 both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
