The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
