The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
