The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals 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 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
