The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning 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. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
