The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
