The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
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 setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan 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 rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
