The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
