The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
