The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated 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 creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
