The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not just the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
