The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
