The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"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. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
