The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
