The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call 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 felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
