The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
