The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
