Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not only the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
