The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not only the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
