The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches 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're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, 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 opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
