The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
