The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
