The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
