Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
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