The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
