The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad 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 "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
