The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
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 recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
