Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
