The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
