The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play 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 first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
