The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
