Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process 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 rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
