The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
