Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not only the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
