The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
