The fast bowler Expected to Feature a Significant Contribution in Iconic Rivalry
The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026