Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
