Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
