Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances 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 the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
