The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
