The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
