Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
