Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
