The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, aside from his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
