The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
