The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
