The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
