The fast bowler Set to Play a Key Part in the Ashes
The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 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 secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted 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 regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
