Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
