The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
