The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
