The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
