Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
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