The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
