The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
