The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out 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 five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
