Australia's captain Expected to Feature a Significant Contribution in Ashes Series
The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
