The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, 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 ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
