The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants 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 state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
