The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
