The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
