Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back 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
