The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
