The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
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 team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
