The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
