The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
