The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
