The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
