The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
