Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
