Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
