The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder 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.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
