Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated 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 initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
