The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated 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.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
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The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
