Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
