The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation 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All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.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 Sheffield Shield, 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 batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back 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
