The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability 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 initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
