The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
