The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
