The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
