The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"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, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
