The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue 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 batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
