The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
