The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
