The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors involved, not only the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
