Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
