Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
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 there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
