The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
