The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
