The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
