Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
