The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned 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 first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
