The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
