Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
