Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue 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 building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
