The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
