Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
