Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series 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 setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts 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 rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
