The Australian skipper has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
