The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized 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 building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
