Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
