The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out 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 "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
