The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
