The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper 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 safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
