The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
