The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
