The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
