The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned 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 take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
