Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
