The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
