The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
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 various factors at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move 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 "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. 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
