The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
