The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
