The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled 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 resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
