The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, 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
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
