The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
