Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
