The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
