The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, 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 lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests 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 state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
