The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process 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 first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026