The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
