The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
