Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled 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 deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
