The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed 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 four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
