The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
