The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
