The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
