Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
