The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, 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 opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
