The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
