Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
