Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
