Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
