Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
