Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
