The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
