The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
