Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
