The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
