The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
