The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
