The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
