The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
