The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
