The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 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 the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
