The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play 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 take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
