The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
