The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not only the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
