The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
