Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
