Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
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 the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
