The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
