The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not only the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
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