The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"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 another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
