The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
