The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"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 adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
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 regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
