The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
