The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
