Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision 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 was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
