The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
