Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
