Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
