The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
