Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026