Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
