The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
