The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman 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 "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
