The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
