Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
