The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, 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 spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
