Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
