Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
