The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
