The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
