Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
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The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
