The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
