The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
