The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
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