The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know 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.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
