The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
