The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
