The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
