Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted 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.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
