The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
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The Historic Rivalry
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