The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
