The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"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 a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
