Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
