The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
