Australia selector George Bailey has confirmed Steve Smith will lead the national team in the Ashes 2025, if regular Test captain Pat Cummins cannot recover from his back injury before then. Cummins already has been excluded from the coming white-ball series against India, with the series opening in the first ODI at Perth on Sunday, and is uncertain for the opening Ashes Test which is to start on November 21 in Perth. Smith Ready to Lead the Side in the Absence of Cummins In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Bailey explicitly stated that Smith is the planned stand-in skipper of the team. Bailey stated: “If Pat doesn’t play, Smudge [Smith] will captain. That’s business as usual for us. That formula has worked." The chief selector also informed that Cummins, even with the injury, will continue to be closely attached with the team's preparation and leadership process. Bailey said: "Regardless of whether he's playing, Pat’s keen to be around because if he's not playing he'll be rehabbing and getting ready and bowling, so he'll be with the team anyway. That information flow and working together as captain and vice-captain will remain the same." Smith, who just returned from New York, has already commenced training at the Cricket New South Wales academy. He is likely to play the next two rounds of the Sheffield Shield for NSW in Brisbane and Sydney as preparation for the Ashes. Bailey added: "Steve landed and he was at Cricket NSW the next day batting. So he'll do his thing. We've tried to tailor everyone's prep to suit them and certain obligations around that, but very comfortably he'll be ready to go." Also Read | Rashid Khan Slams Pakistan After Air Strikes Kill Afghan Cricketers Injury Fears Pile Up for Australia Ahead of Ashes Australia's injury list keeps on increasing as Cameron Green became the latest addition to join Cummins on the sidelines. Green picked up a minor side strain in WA's Sheffield Shield opener while coming back from spinal surgery. While being ruled out of the India series, Bailey ensured the all-rounder would be fully fit ahead of the Ashes. Bailey told the ABC: "Even minor side strains can see players ruled out for four to six weeks, but there will be no question over Green's fitness come The Ashes. It's very, very minor. It’s a conservative and precautionary approach from us. The big plan is to have him fit and firing as an all-rounder come the Ashes." Besides Cummins and Green, Australia also has issues with Beau Webster (ankle), Lance Morris (season-ending), and Jhye Richardson, who is recovering from a shoulder operation. With Cummins' possible absence and Green's restricted bowling load, Australia's bowling attack may be tested early in the Ashes campaign. As the team prepares to defend the urn, Smith's captaincy may once again be the deciding factor.