The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
