The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors involved, aside from his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated 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 participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
