The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
