Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
