The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out 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 recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
