The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
