The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," 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 a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
