Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
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 around that, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
