Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors around that, not only the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted 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.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
