The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
