Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
