The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
