The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision 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 his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026