The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming 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.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
