The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
