The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns 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 final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
