The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games 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 take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
