The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
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 recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place 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 dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
