The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
