The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, aside from his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
