The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, 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. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
