The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed 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 recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
