The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, aside from his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
