The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style 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
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
