The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games 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 approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
