Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not only the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
