Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
