Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to 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."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
