The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
