Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
