The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
