Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
