The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
