The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
