The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
