The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared 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," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
