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Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.

There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.

Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.

Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.

"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.

"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."

Previous Setbacks

The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.

He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.

The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot 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 "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.

Contingency Plans

Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.

The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.

The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."

"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.

"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."

Match Calendar

The Historic Rivalry

21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026