Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
