The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned 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 Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated 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.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
