The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
