The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not only the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
