The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. 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
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
