The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back 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
