The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
