Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
