Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
