The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
