The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
