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 confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
