The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
