Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
