The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
