The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
