The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
