The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
