The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
