Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
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.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"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.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
