Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
