The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not just the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
