The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
