The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
