The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
