The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
