The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
