Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games 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.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
