The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
