The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
