The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, 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 participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
