The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game 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, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
