The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
