Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
