Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series 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 window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
