The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern 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 be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
