The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches 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 Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
