The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, aside from his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
