Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
