The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
