The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper 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The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
