The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
