Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
