The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
