Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
