The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches 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 a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, 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 initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
