Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports 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.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style 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
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
