The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026