The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call 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 the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
