Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
