Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
