Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
