The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
