Australia's captain Set to Play a Key Part in Ashes Series
The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized 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 Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
