The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
