Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.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 Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
