Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
