Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
