The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
