The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
