The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted 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 regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
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Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
