Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
