The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
