The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, 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 rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play 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 participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
