The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan 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. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
