The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
