Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups 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 recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described 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."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
