Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
