The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed 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.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
