The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month 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 several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
