The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
