The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated 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 building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
