The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
