The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
