Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
