The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
