Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
