The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
