The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot 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 "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
