The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
