The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
