The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
