The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know 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 opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
