The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
