The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
