The question over what involvement Cummins may have and the bowlers Australia could use fuels the suspicion that pace bowling will be a determining factor in the eventual Ashes winners.
England have named a battery of quick bowlers in their squad, probably the most hostile group they have sent down under since 1970.
There are questions over some members of the attack. Mark Wood has not played a Test since August of last year, Jofra Archer has a long injury history, while all of Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue have had lay-offs in the past year.
England’s Ashes squad is slowly assembling, with many in the side beaten by New Zealand in the opening one-day international on Sunday.
Others, like Wood and Tongue, are not part of the New Zealand series but are in the country as part of their preparations.
Captain Ben Stokes is one of the later members to travel after spending time with the England rugby league team before their first Ashes Test against Australia on Saturday.
Stokes has not played since July because of a shoulder injury, yet is thought to be on course for the first Ashes Test. England play their only warm-up match, against an England Lions team, in Perth on 13 November.
All-rounder Stokes has not played a full part in any of England’s past four Test series because of a variety of injuries.
It could be the Ashes is ultimately decided by which of captains Cummins and Stokes is able to spend most time on the field.