The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
