The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
