The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, aside from his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
