The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
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 discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
