The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out 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 Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
