The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
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 national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
