The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear 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 be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
