The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
