The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
