Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
