Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors at play, not only his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
