The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
