The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler 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 whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
