Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
