Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
