The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
