The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
