The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear 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 participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
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