Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
