The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
