The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
