The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
