The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
