The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
