The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately 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 "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
