The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
