Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings 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
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
