Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
