The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue 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 building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
