The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
