Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
