The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
