The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
