Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
