Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
