The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out 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 Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, 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Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
