The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
