The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
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 one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
