The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed 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 back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
