The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
