The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," 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, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
