The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. 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."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
