The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot 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 regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
