Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
