The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors at play, not just the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
