The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
