The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.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 mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
