The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
