Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
