The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy 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 conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"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 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
