The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
