Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
