The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
