Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups 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 recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
