The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not only the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
