The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
