The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
