Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time 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 starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
