The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
