The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
