The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
