Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
