The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
