The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
