Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
