Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper 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 the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
