The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
