The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
