The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, 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 lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
