The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad 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.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, 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 take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
