Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
