The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive 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 sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
