The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper 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 an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"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.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
