Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, 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 first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
