The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
