The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
