The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear 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 be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
