The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback 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.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
