Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
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