Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
