The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
