The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted 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, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
