Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026