The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
