The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
