The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
