The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
