The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play 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 be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings 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
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
