Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
