The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
