Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
