Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
