The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, aside from his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
