Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
