Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach 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 rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
