The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
