The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
