The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, 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 back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
