The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
