The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
