Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss 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 series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
