The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
