The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns 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 squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not just his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
