Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, 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 all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
