The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
