The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
