Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
