The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
