The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
