The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
