The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors at play, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
