The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
