The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances 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 England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, 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 proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
