Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
