The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
