The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
