The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
