The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
