The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
