Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
