The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series 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 setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation 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, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
