Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
