The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not only his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
