The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors around that, aside from his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"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 a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
