The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
