The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
