The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. 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 approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
