The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized 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 creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
