The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
