Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. 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 take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
