The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
