The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
