The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
