The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out 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 "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
