The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
