The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
