The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue 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 participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
