The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences 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 rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"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 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
