The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
