The Australian skipper has secured 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 historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
