The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
