Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
