Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
