The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
