Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
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