Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
