The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, 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 his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
