The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
