Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
