The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
