Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
