Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
