Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
