Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
