The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
