Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches 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 England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
