Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play 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 take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
