Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
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 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
