The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
