The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
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."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
