Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
