The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
