Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles 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
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
