The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
