Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
