Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
