Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized 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 rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026