The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
