The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
