The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
