The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
