Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead 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 ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
