The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
