Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
