The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not only his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
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 be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
