Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
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 squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
