The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out 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 "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
