Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
