Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
