The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
