The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
